The prairie-grass dividing, its special odor breathing, I demand of it the spiritual corresponding, Demand the most copious and close companionship of men, Demand the blades to rise of words, acts, beings, Those of the open atmosphere, coarse, sunlit, fresh, nutritious, Those that go their own gait, erect, stepping with freedom and command, leading not following, Those with a never-quell'd audacity, those with sweet and lusty flesh clear of taint, Those that look carelessly in the faces of Presidents and governors, as to say Who are you? Those of earth-born passion, simple, never constrain'd, never obedient, Those of inland America. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...TO RIDGELY TORRENCE - PLAYWRIGHT by GEORGIA DOUGLAS JOHNSON ALONE (2) by WALTER JOHN DE LA MARE CLOTHES DO BUT CHEAT AND COZEN US by ROBERT HERRICK WHEN FIRST MY WAY by ALFRED EDWARD HOUSMAN THE POET'S SHIELD by ARCHILOCHUS ASPIRATIONS: 4 by MATHILDE BLIND RETURN by EDMUND CHARLES BLUNDEN AVELINGLAS by GORDON BOTTOMLEY SONNETS FOR NEW YORK CITY: 4. THE FOUNTAIN OF LIFE by ANNA HEMPSTEAD BRANCH |